tzonoqua

No offense intended to Brian Brazeal at all, he's great at what he does. But when did he invent the forge welded bundle? Cause I'm pretty sure it's been around for a lot longer than all of us here. Clinton, I think it's an interesting piece, and an experiment as to where metal can move! As you say, it might benefit from a bit of "harmonizing". Keep at it! :)

Hi Daniel, That looks great! The only suggestion I would have would be to add two holes for screws, with just one after a while it can work slightly loose and turn (depending on the wall material it is fastened to, some material works loose quicker than others) with two it should hold more securely. Also, for making coat hooks a broader end of hook is usually better for garments- a very pointy end will mishape them, I often will flatten the end out in a bit of a fishtail and curl that over so that there is a little more surface area to support the garment. Or you could fold over a section at the end and forge weld that to create a ball or wider end. This also depends on whether the hook is intended as a coat hook, or a hook for something else. This is not to pick holes in what you have done, simply suggestions of what I have found works! Keep up the good work!

Ouch, I work with circular saws and band saws and planers (among other machines) at my part time job, I have a very healthy respect for them, I try not to get my hands very close- I use pushsticks if my hands will be closer than 200mm and keep the guard well down when possible. It's the planer that scares me the most though!! Hope you have a speedy recovery!!

Frosty, I'm the same about pointy stuff, any sharp tapers get a little curl at the end. I started doing it when my daughter was two and would run around in the showroom next to my forge, and have continued with the practice!

I don't think a "jig" is appropriate for a piece like this, I do though think perhaps the maker had a "former" to work on, so that the loops appear of the same size? I would think maybe a section of large diameter round pipe to form the loops around, alternatively. That's my guess. Getting two identical is the thing that can be done with a lot of practice!

That's pretty! Did you forge it hot, or anneal it and work it cold? Just curious!

Hello Bogmonster! Welcome! I spent a few summers on a farm very near to where are when my partner was working up there about 6 years ago, I saw a peregrin falcon take a pigeon out of the air in Cheddar Gorge, and the caves there are absolutely amazing!! Great place! Anyway, lots of great info here to chew on so have fun!

Yes, very true, I have students who come to my shop for a taster in metal arts, a few of them do that exact thing- hammer it right down into the former, not easy with the ring, but the pipe offcut for sure! I keep the pipe offcut so long because I also use it as a former to make rings, and candle holders as well, otherwise it could be quite short. Love to see your results at turning!

You could do something like this depending on how deep you want the forms to be? Large diameter pipe offcuts can work too, make sure you grind/file the edges round. I have seen someone use the cut off end of a propane gas bottle as a large dish former. Tree stump idea is great too!

ok, here are some pics of the formers- ring and pipe offcut!

We did some alu casting today with the year 12s, and managed to demonstrate it all in one (one hour) lesson, packing the mold, and pouring, but of course not breaking the mold open as was just poured! The methods mentioned you can form hot or cold, depending on thicknesses. I don't have any pics handy, but will try to take some tomorrow when I get to the workshop.

Great illustration of the casting process, we do this at the school I work in too, it's great fun and the students love it and are engaged with the process. I do think though that you could very easily find something simpler that would be good for dishing candle drip trays in and have saved yourself the hassle of casting (although I realize that it's not really the point) I used to use a very simple former- section of round stock made into a ring, and used that on the anvil, (or you could use an offcut of pipe and file/grind the edges round) and hammered the dish into the circle, you could even weld the circle former to a back plate with a section to drop into the hardy hole, or use in a vice.

Same as Mat, I've got an ancient (Rapidor) power hack saw too, I paid £5 for it! It is slow, and the motor on mine is super noisy, but you can set it up and go do something else when it cuts. However, often I'll just get the 230mm (9 inch) grinder with cut off disc, like John N has suggested.

btw I would never condone drinking vodka and working a forge at the same time, just in case you all got the wrong idea!!!

Nice and warm by the fire, and I've heard vodka keeps you warm at those temperatures too! Also, where forging with gloves is permitted!!!!

I think it's just a way of keeping rhythm in the pause where you're turning the metal or thinking about the next move, it's not a full blow so I don't think it's a waste of energy, and hardly would put a dent in the anvil! I don't know about a rational explanation, no one ever taught me to do it, it just sort of naturally developed. Woody, I would love to see a video of you hammer flipping between blows, could work as a great demoing gimmick!! :)

Looks great, I love that table in the second picture. What a fantastic opportunity to have a show in such a place!

Wow, Danger, love the scale of that, you don't do things by halves do you??!!!!

Sam, the tools you make are things of beauty! And, I especially like the eyes on your new anvil :)

That looks really sweet! I am sure they will love it!

Hi mgoulds, Speak to John B on here. They have done anvil firing at Finch Foundry, I recall reading about it. I plan to go to the event this November 24th. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Bentiron, that is exactly the point about the sustainability of a hunter gatherer lifestyle. That was meant in the way of "living within our means" kind of sustainable, rather than this way of the world that thinks that exponential growth forever is the right way. Of course the only way we could support more and more population was through farming... look where that's got us!! It always brings me back to grade 9 and my science teacher and the fruit flies in a jar.... Except I believe that humans are so adaptable we will always find a way to survive. r smith, I am sure in a few thousand years those stones will be conjectured about just as they are now, and just as stonehenge is wondered about!

Very interesting subject, I don't really know enough about it all to comment. I read a book once called "Metals in the Service of Man", quite an old book but was very informative, and might be of interest. Another book that may be of interest was titled "The Green History of the Earth" which is about mankind's effect on the environment, quite stark reading. Apparently when we became farmers it all went out the window, if we had stayed as hunter gatherers then we could have sustained ourselves... we have gone way far past that though!!

Wow, that looks incredible, must be very satisfying to have a chunk of iron that you've made yourselves!! Mick that photo is amazing!!

looks like a pretty good trade!